Happy 10th Anniversary!

June 5th was our 10 year wedding anniversary. Woo Hoo!!! WOW 10 yrs, need I say more? We have made it to the double digits and many more to come! To celebrate this special occasion, Jared and I were able to cash in on the benefits of having Gma and Gpa Crowder so close and willing, to watch the kids for us for a 3 1/2 day get-a-way. We were able to score (Thanks to someone special) a free 3 night stay at the Flamingo Hotel, with an AWESOME Buffet, plus with a little time-share investigating we scored free tickets to BLUE MAN GROUP, and my most favorite PHANTOM! This time away together was so needed, and very much enjoyed by both of us. We also had fun admiring all the neat architechture and buildings along the Vegas strip. The Venetian was where the Phantom and Blue Man Group performed and was probably my favorite building of those we got to see. Thanks for the fun time babe! 10 down, and forever to go!

Last week we got to go as a family to have an early ultrasound done to find out if we are having a girl or a boy. Morgan and Tyler were so fascinated with seeing the baby on the monitor, I was so glad that we brought them with us. The technitian was immediately able to determine that he was a BOY! Plain as day. Jared and I were both secretly hoping for a boy, so we were so excited and couldn't help but chat about it and discuss names the rest of the night. Please give us name ideas. For now the favorite is Chase Ryan Crowder. I also like Braden (my maiden name), Garrett (in honor of my Brother), and Kaj (Kai). All votes invited! Seeing the little baby inside, hearing the heartbeat, and knowing he's a boy, makes reality set in that much further that my 4th is on the way. Ahhhhhhhhhhh! Ready or not! LOL. I am excited, and yet at the same time have moments of feeling- what the heck have I done to myself.

GIRLS NIGHT OUT for my 30th

Happy Birthday mom, come dig with me in the dirt
Bertha and Magenta's Pedicure Salon.
Birthday Cake decorated by Morgan and Drei, yes the red blob is Sprinkles.... more is better right?
A day for me, but not about me!
Morgan in her "MODEL" pose, because she was strut'n makeup and princess curls. LOL can you tell she's feel'n good! She was seriously walking so funny trying to BE beautiful.
This girl has dangerous lashes! Good thing Kim has a few more years to not get too worried!
Cute Kim and Drei enjoying thier time with NO Boys Allowed!
So for my 30th B-day, nothing was planned because Jared was taking Tyler to Father and Son's Campout, their first one ever. The day started out with my regular morning calls, then a little digg'n in the dirt, and then a mad rush to help pack Daddy and Tyler. Tyler was so excited to camp, although he had no idea what "camp" meant. After they left it was GIRLS NIGHT OUT! My friend Kim, after just learning it was my birthday and I had nothing planned, invited Morgan and I to celebrate my B-day and the fact that there were no boys in the house, with herself, daughter Drei, and little tag along Asher baby. I of course jumped on the fun. Our evening went as followed:
1) Makeovers with Mom. They did us, and we did them. Believe it or not, their version of our make up wasn't as bad as you'd think, so we didn't waste the memory space =)
2) Mommy Hairstylists- We did lots of "Princess hair" with curls and twists to be oh so glamerous.
3) A night on the town. We had dinner at Johnny Carino's (YUM) and made it seem that this was a special treat and this restaurant was for only adults and SPECIAL DAYS for kids. Kim and I tried VERY hard to not talk, and to make this about them, and talked only kid stuff and asked lots of questions to the girls. They of couse soaked it up.
4) Back to the house for Cake and Ice Cream for ME, and Pampering Pedicures at Bertha and Magenta's Salon. LOL! Yes laugh it up, Kim and I got into character and pretended to run a salon, inviting Morgan and Drei to come have a pedicure. We pulled out all the stops, foot spa, massages, toe paint and all. I think our funny accents (particularly Kim's-she wins the prize) was their favorite part of mommies being so silly.
5) Last but not least sleep over at Loudon's in their big guest room and cuddle time with mom!
It was a very fun evening. After that, who needs a 30th B-day party! Kim and I stayed up late and chatted, and had fun playing with picutres. Thanks for the rescue Kim! Totally made my day!

Swimming with Cousins

Last Wednesday we got to go to Aunt Kellie's pool in Brea, for a day with Cousins in honor of Johhny's 4th B-Day. The kids had a blast, but I think Grandma C had more fun than anyone else. She spent most of the day hauling kiddies on her back pacing the pool. She surely got her exercise that day. My memory card was full so I didn't get near enough pictures of Grandma, but she had one little person in her arms at all times. Wyatt and Kamryn were cracking me up how they both wanted to pose with their cake. I had especially fun taking pictures of the babies, as you can tell! It was a fun day!

Happy Birthday Rachelle!!

Hey Babe,

This is your hubby wanting to wish you a Happy B-Day!  The BIG 30!  It isn't as bad as people make it out to be.  I wanted to publicly let you know how much I love you and am amazed at all of the things you are able to accomplish!  You are an amazing mother, and I am so grateful that our children get to learn from you.  You have an amazing ability to teach them the principles that will serve them throughout their lives.  I am so thankful for the patience that you show towards me.  I know that I can be a pain in the rump sometimes, and I am thankful for the way that you give me room to be me, and work it out.  I just wanted you to know that I consider you the greatest thing in my life, and I will do all that I can to show you how much you mean to me.  I love you babe!  Happy Birthday!

Love always,

Jared

I hope any of you love birds out there will take a minute to listen to the words of the song "lucky" by Jason Mraz and Colbie, because it is a favorite of mine. I am so lucky to be in love with my best friend. I think as the years pass, and life is filled with children, callings, and responsibilities, we can often drift a part or forget to keep doing the things that make us love each other. I on the other hand, feel like I lucked out or am blessed, or however you want to word it. I scored big time in the friend department with my hubby. Jared is my best freind, and takes great interest and time investing in me and making me a priority. So that is why I loved this song. When I heard it for the first time months ago, I wanted to put it on my blog, but finally I am getting around to it, and wanted to say I LOVE YOU JARED! And I'm lucky to be in love with my best friend!

The EVIL Mint Chocolate Cookie

Had I known this cookie was capable of THIS.... I would NOT have given it to her. I gave it to her to buy myself some time upstairs... and when I came down, this is what I saw. Before I said anything, she was showing me her hands and jibbering about them. She had relized what she had done, and she was NOT proud of herself. So then I asked the questions, what happened, what did you do? These were her expressions. You can see she does not like being this messy. I did not even attempt to wash her. It was right to the bathtub. The next below pictures are of Brooklyn trying to hide in the cupboard and play with my old cell phone. She doesn't know its my old phone so you can see in the piture below her expression looks "busted" trying to see if she can make a face that will make mommy smile.

Once I smiled and told her she could have it, she was so excited and then carried on in her activites of trying to talk on it.

Slip 'N Slide

This week Morgan and Tyler were so excited to get out the Slip 'N Slide they got for their birthday. Funny how they have no idea what a slip'n slide actually IS... but the idea of doing something new and seeing the kids on the box have big smiles on their faces, it must be exciting. So we got it all set up and it was hilarious how I COULD NOT, for the life of me keep Brooklyn OFF or explain HOW to Slip 'n Slide. I was not going to get out there in the front yard to demonstrate for the neighbors, so it was exhausting mentally for me to figure out how to choose the kinds of words to explain... you run-not on the slide yet, then you fall forward with "momentum" (explain that word to a 3 and 5 year old) and then slide all the way to the end. Morgan would run- (good) then slow down and fall (almost) then stop. hmmmmm... not quite. Tyler would just run down the whole yellow slide, then jump over the hump at the end- totally missed the whole point. If anyone was watching them or listening to me attempt to DIRECT.. it was I am sure hilarious. Finally Morgan figured it out and got pretty good, Tyler was able to figure out how to fall onto his knees and get enough momentum to slide about 2 feet into the water pooled at the end- which to him was very exciting. He couldn't figure out how to use the boogie board part, so he just carried it with him each time it was his turn. Every chance Brooklyn could get, she was so excited be a part of something new and fun, and the little water trickles that fell onto the slide were just her height. She was so excited to stand on it and do her little fast stepy-stepy-step to show she was "having fun." Although it took the entire afternoon before they finally "got it," it totally has met the expectation of fun, and we were able to enjoy the 2nd time around later in the week with friends... and then they were the ones trying to show their friends how it works.

My Little Morgan isn't so Little!

Morgan turned 5 on April 11th, and to my surprise I feel like overnight she became a grown up little girl. I wanted to take a couple of minutes to write how I feel and the joy she is to her mommy and the happiness she brings our family. She is so amazing how much she wants to please us and make others happy. She is incredibly helpful, and takes it upon herself contstantly to watch out for Brooklyn, and sometimes even more than I do. She is my sweetheart, helper, and tender little companion, and I love her so much! Thank you Morgan for being such a good girl! I love you honey!

Best Laid Plans for a combined Birthday Party

Saturday was the 1/2 way point between both Tyler and Morgan's Birthdays. I figured it would be fun to all get together to celebrate, since it had been awhile since our family had been over. In the beginning, I had fun planning the party and puting in hours of shopping, wrapping and cake making for both of them. Well sadly the saying goes " best laid plans!" Nothing happened the way it was supposed to on the morning of. No wonder so often I opt out to not do big events, do things EVER happen like they are planned to?
1. Fire Station cancels on me so there will be NO tour of the fire station or seeing of the Fire Engine. (this was the BIG event and activity for the party) - but what ends up being just the beginning of a downward spiral.
2. Brooklyn having double duty teething of both tops and bottoms coming in at the same time would NOT let me put her down, as I was trying to gather everything to get over to the park. Being the stress case I was, 9:40 rolls around and feelings of panic come over me as I am not at the park yet, Brookyn screaming and me first thinking I was stranded with no car, while Jared is out running other assignments I had given him. Thank heavens grandpa was there to help pack 1/2 the stuff in his car and the other 1/2 along with 3 kids, I loaded in the stroller and walked it all over to the park.
3. Pavillion ends up being reserved by the "Rodriguez Family" so I move my party things and decor 3 different times trying to accomodate my guests and be in a place near the park but not in the sun.
4. WIND WIND WIND! It ws so windy, therefore it was cold and multiple small children crying at the gusts of wind that would knock over their drinks and spill all over the tables.
5. No water fountain play because the fountains were down, and the wind made it FREEZING.

So that about sums it up for my plans. I did however last minute before the party stuff 150 eggs for an easter hunt and invited the mothers who had eggs lying around to do the same to make a fun hunt if we needed more fun at the party. This ended up BEING the party. LOL!!! Once we settled down, we ended up on a hill away from the playground. While the Pizza (which took forever) came, I ran my bubble machine, and then took all the kids into the field to play duck duck goose, Red light Green light, Simon Says, and Ring Around the Rosies. Gladly my captive audience ranges from 13months - 5 yrs old and these activities were recieved well and got us through the long wait for pizza. After we ate, we had a blast with the easter egg hunt, enjoyed the present opening, and the BIG HIT of my Theme Cakes. The kids loved the cakes and couldn't wait to have some, so that and the easter egg was worth all the effort after all. I am so glad it was a party for family becuase they were all wonderful to roll with the punches and just enjoy being together. Thanks for all your support everyone, It wouldn't have worked out without you.

Baby Dylan's Blessing

My Nephew, baby Dylan had his baby blessing last week. It was so fun to get to enjoy seeing him on his special day and be a part of it, and have more time with family. We love you guys!

Cute Juliana

Becca asked that I take a few cute pictures of Juliana before she left today, so here is her cute little face. I am going to miss Becca and her girls so much, I wish she was closer. I soaked her in as best I could knowing it will be a while before I get to have this again. Love you Becca!